BEHIND VICKSBURG,
June 14, 1863 — 8 a.m.,
VIA MEMPHIS, June 17 — Noon.
(Received 7 p.m.)
All the indications point to the speedy surrender of this
place. Deserters who came out yesterday say that the Tennessee and Georgia
regiments have determined to stack their arms within three days and refuse to
continue the defense on the ground that it is useless, and that it is
impossible to fight on the rations they receive. All the deserters are worn out
and hungry, and say the whole garrison are in the same condition; besides, the
defense has for several days been conducted with extraordinary feebleness,
which must be due either to the deficiency of ammunition, or exhaustion and
depression in the garrison, or to their retirement to an inner line of defense.
The first and third of these causes no doubt operate to some extent, but the
second we suppose to be the most influential. These deserters also say that
fully one-third of the garrison are in hospital, and that officers, as well as
men, have begun to despair of relief from Johnston. The troops of General
Herron got into position yesterday. The advance of the Ninth Army Corps is also
believed by General Grant to have arrived at Young's Point, though he has no
positive report, and does not expect one till it has its place as a part of the
besieging force on the south of the city, whither he has sent orders for it to
proceed. After the arrival there of this corps, General Herron is to move to
the right of General Lauman, and occupy that portion of the lines which is now
held by Hovey's division, which McClernand will then station as a reserve to
support the other divisions of his corps. All of W. S. Smith's division are now
at Haynes' Bluff, where I saw them yesterday working upon the intrenchments
with admirable zeal. The fortifications there for an army of 25,000 troops will
be in a condition for practical use by the 16th instant. It is a stronger
defensive position even than Vicksburg. The distance hence to Drumgould's Bluff
is 11 miles, to Haynes' Bluff 14. Drumgould's, on which the rebels placed their
most elaborate works, is an isolated mamelon. Snyder's and Haynes' Bluffs are
connected by a ridge, though flanks on the river side are separated by two
ravines and a bayou slope. Snyder's commands the lower, Haynes' the upper bend
of the Yazoo. Snyder' Bluff is now being fortified. When the works there are completed,
they will be extended around Haynes' also. They will then form an intrenched
camp for 50,000 troops. From Joe Johnston there is no news since my last
dispatch, except that which merely confirms its principal contents. He has made
no new movements in this quarter.
Sebastian, Senator from Arkansas, has determined to claim
his seat in the next Congress. With the fall of Vicksburg, he says that all
west of the Mississippi is emancipated from the Confederacy, and that Arkansas
can be brought back into the Union. He has taken no part in the war.
Please inform me by telegraph whether you wish me to go to
General Rosecrans after the fall of Vicksburg, or whether you have any other
orders for me. I should like to go home for a short time.
C. A. DANA.
Hon. E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
24, Part 1 (Serial No. 36), p. 98-9
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